“As you accept your diplomas, I encourage you to ask yourself one question. What is your sense of the world today here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on this campus of LSU, and what do you perceive is your place in that world?”

“The realities of life, whatever those realities may be for you and certain realities for me were shocking, those realities actually strengthened me and they boldened me, and they made me into the person I am today, the person standing before you.”

“It doesn’t matter where you start out in life; it matters where you want to go and where you actually end up in life.”

“I hope these words of wisdom will serve you as they’ve served me, and once again, congratulations to you the graduates of 2012 and your families. I wish you the greatest success in the future.”